Thursday, May 27, 2010

Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the learning revolution! | Video on TED.com

Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the learning revolution! | Video on TED.com

This is the second of Sir Ken Robinson's stunningly thought-provoking TED talks on education and human creativity. He challenges mainstream thinking with wisdom, experience and humour: a very convincing combination. I'm very impressed with what he's got to say.

Here are some salient quotes from this 18-minute talk, that really moved me:

In challenging rigid, linear thinking, he says "Life is organic. We create our lives symbiotically as we explore our talents in relationship to the circumstances they help create for us."

About diversity: "Human communities depend upon a diversity of talent, not a singular conception of ability."

About approaching people as individuals: "A three-year-old is not half a six-year-old."

And what really touched me (partially I guess because yesterday we had a meeting at uni about the 'new' measuring model (ERA = Excellence in Research Australia) which attempts - once more, same same but different - to quantitatively measure the quality of research at universities), the following:
"We have sold ourselves into a fast food model of education and it is impoverishing our spirits as much as it is depleting our physical bodies."

He gets a standing ovation at the end.

Thanks to my colleague Kurt at SCU who brought this new clip to my attention. Sir Ken's previous talk, equally interesting and persuasive, can be viewed here.

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